Joe Buttitta, 3, and Grant, 4, and Alison Biewenga, 8, all of Arlington Heights, compete in a game of percussion "Simon Plays."Courtesy of B-L Pellicore/Prospect Band Boosters

Mark, 8, and Matt, 10, Haddad (throwing) of Arlington Heights compete with each other on the Snare Skip, one of 30 games offered at the Day as a Knight fun fair.Courtesy of B-L Pellicore/Prospect Band Boosters

Grayson Parmenter, 3, of Mount Prospect proudly leads the band in a "marching experience" with PMK band members at the fun fair.Courtesy of B-L Pellicore/Prospect Band Boosters

Landon Salgado, 5, of Palatine takes a swing at the Home Run Derby game.Courtesy of B-L Pellicore/Prospect Band Boosters

Submitted by the Prospect High School Band Boosters

They came in all sizes -- aspiring young musicians, dancers or families who just wanted to enjoy an afternoon "playing" with the award-winning Prospect Marching Knights, Prospect High School's marching band and color guard.

According to band booster and event organizer Bruce Nejdl, the goal of this "Day as a Knight" interactive musical fun fair, which took place Aug. 12 on the high school campus, was to provide a day of family fun and musical education.

"Our mission is to get kids excited about music at an early age," he said. "It doesn't matter where they live or go to school -- the point is to give them a fun musical experience that will spark their interest in the fine arts."

Some of the 300 family members in attendance came from as far away as Lake Zurich, as well as Jefferson Park in Chicago, Palatine, Des Plaines, Prospect Heights, Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect.

All proceeds from this event will help support the state champion Prospect Marching Knights as they prepare for their 2012 competitive marching season. Dates are:

• Sept. 8: Lake Park High School, Roselle;

• Sept. 22: Chicagoland Marching Band Championship, Wheeling;

• Sept. 29: Knight of Champions, Prospect High School;

• Oct. 13: Illini Marching Band Festival, Champaign;

• Oct. 19-20: Bands of America Super Regional, St. Louis;

• Oct. 27: state of Illinois Band Championship, Bloomington.

The PMK also performs at each home game of the Prospect High School varsity football team: Aug. 24 and 31; Sept. 21 and Oct. 5 (homecoming).

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